Kefka Arrives

From SCross

The circle drawn in front of the esper caves is massive. Stretching at least 100-yard radius. The circle is marked out with a number of oak stakes driven into the ground, forming a mystic circle. Atop each stake a small soapstone dish with a grease fire burning to create a flamed ring around. In the circle, drawn with expert care are the symbols for, what seems like, every spirit. Every spirit great and small has been represented in the circle. Their symbols are laid out in smooth white stones, and a ring of granite rocks around each symbol. With enough space for summoners to wrap around their patron spirit, and make sure they can call for them. All around the summoning symbols are small fires, sacrificial alters, and an umber of other places for those devout to offer gifts to their spirits. This is a large gathering which has taken a few people most of the two days preparation. But this is a call to every spirit large and small, so most of the details have been worked out. There are no hard boundaries, summoners and spirits can mingle all over the place and make their offerings to a number of different spirits and come in and out of the main circle at any time. Dax, the summoner that has called everyone here is getting ready to make his offerings. He stands next to the circle of Gerna, perhaps just a HAIR better taken care of. But he gives respect to all the spirits. Gerna's sphere being on the outer ring, with the major spirits wrapped around the center alter, the lesser spirits around them, and minor spirits and espers among the outer ring. Every type of spirit etiquette has been attempted to make sure there can be no offense taken. At least to the best of Dax's knowledge.

Ekess steps out of the ice caves and into the open area of forest nearby, making her way to the designated gathering place for espers and summoners. The chameleon is clothed, though not quite adequately for the high-forties weather. However,this is counterbalanced by the fact that she has a small ball of flame heldin her hands, and one between two of her three tails, which are arched over her back to keep the ball of fire in front of Kit, who is riding atop her tauric rear.

Seelus flies out of the caves behind Ekess and lands gently on the ground, looking at Dax and then at the circle and the altars. The moogle moves forwards slightly, deelie-bob bouncing as he looks around. Not saying anything for now just observing all.

Dimitri slips from the caves, his hand falling and brushing his lower stomach before he looks over the circle. A slow smile tugs at the corner of the half espers lips before he begins moving to join Dax, his blue tail twitching slightly before he nods to him and flashes a quick smile, though he is silent.

Kit is just riding the taur keeping a few shadows wrapped close, not making to draw attention or stand out right now just curious it seems.

Lost all over again, Aden wanders to a stop a bit away from the circle, seeing the light of the fire and staring, the other shapes becoming a bit clearer when he is at a stop. His arms are crossed... His bright orange deelie-bob isn't moving at all, due to his lack of fidgeting. He's observing as well.

Dax nods his head and smiles, "Thank you all for coming! I ask you all to come help and ask for our spirit friends to come back to us...I hope that our prayers and our offerings of faith and kindness will allow them to see that we do care for them, and wish them to come back" he sas as he begins to prepare for his own offers, taking ou t a large ammount of purchased goods, "I offer wine and beer, so that our friends shall drink heartily and know merriment!" he says and pours the contents around the rings of the spirits, not splashing onto the symbols themselves, but offering around them

The offering to a minor spirit of ice flares, puck's trinket bursting into spirit flame even as the named spirit tumbles from the air to land in the very place. He is bloodied and torn, thrashing in place a moment against nothing before another trinket bursts, bringing forth his combatant, carbuncle seemingly leaping from nowhere and tearing viciously at puck's shoulders as the two wrestle. The ring begins to light itself with the glow of lost trinkets as spirits great and small appear, locked mid-battle. Clashing steel, tearing flesh and loud plumes of magic begin shaking the area under the war. It is hard to see who is on which side, if there even ARE sides.

Ekess moves over to stand near the circle for Gerna, though her gaze wanders until spying those for Alexander and Madeen. "It is not the first time that I wish I could split myself to be in multiple places at once, but now is not the time!" That beng said, the esper of magical defense goes into a casting trance, mentally searching out the spirits that she is aligned with and searching further for ways to protect the rest of them from....each other!

Seelus stares at the scene of war on shock, one hand clutching at his necklace, the moogle rises up a few feet, the earth moving beneath his toes as he begins to move slowly around the circle. "Who do we aid...what...what is going on..." He doesn't even kupo he's that baffled by what he is seeing.

Dimitri's eyes go wide and he takes a step back, half shouting in surprise, "No!!" He looks left and right quickly before looking at Dax, "What..." The rest of the question is cut off as he lifts his voice and his hands as well as he swaps to their own language, ~Why do you all fight?! What possible reason could their be for this?!~

Kit sighs lightly... its a very deep unhappy noise that is full of more then a bunch of anguish as the scene starts to unfold and everyone starts to understand. Sure the spirit of love in all of its forms knew this.. this fighting this combat is anything but her domain and it has to sadden her yes. She looks around slowly from her perch as Ekess starts to try to cast protections. "I .. didnt even think the summons would work or I might..." just sighs now chewing on a knuckle. "No reason.. every reason... no rules." not to loudly... Dax or Ekess since they are near her mother's circle.

What great joy, what wonderful bliss, to have those who would seek to help join in the fray, old alliances enforced with blood and violence. A soft laugh echoes from a darkly colored mask, its bells chiming as it lifts from the ground to be held aloft by the crown of someone with the apperance of an entertainer. His laugh increases in volume as he makes broad gesture, "What a pathetic place, let's spice it up with some blood!" he suggests as men covered head to toe in robes appear, the spirit cult of the dark jester. The sky darkens overhead, sun lost behind an eclipse, the area now lit with the exchange of magic.

Aden stares at the battle with his eyes looking distant, detached. For a moment at least. It seems he's just realized what is going on. His arms fall at his side. His hands flex once or twice. He gives a small kupo, and readies himself for something bad. This doesn't look good, or sound good at all. Run or help a friend.

Dax doesn't know what is going on, but he knows this place was supposed to be an offering of peace and reconciliation between mortal and spirit, the Mithra balks at the sight of spirits locked in combat and he raises his hands above his head, "PEACE! Peace my friends! Please Peace! This is a place of peace! Stop this fighting so that we mortals can speak to you Spirits!" he calls out in a begging tone of voice, not sure what he could do to try and get them to listen, he can at least speak to them perfectly, trying to make sure they understand that they are no longer in the spirit realms and have stepped over into the mortal ones. The Jester stepping out into the shadows has made him pale to a shade, "no…no…NO NO NO NO! THE DARK CLOWN! KEFKA!" he shouts, now he knows this is bad, "STOP! PLEASE! NO! It is Kefka that does this, please for the love of Gaia and all the spirits!" he cries

Dimitri's head snaps up, eyes lifting for a brief moment before he scowls at Kefka. Even if he does not know the history he can tell this bodes ill. He steps away from Dax and then turns his head, murmuring, "Dax, try to take care of things on this side.." His eyes flick to Ekess and his sister then before he nods to them both before drawing out his double bladed sword from his back and turning to face one of the cult members, ~I would suggest you all rally to the true enemies!~

Ekess is startled out of that trance as her ears pick up the sound of someone...actually encouraging the battle? Her eyes snap open and a low growl escapes her throat as she aborts her attempts to protect the other spirits of defense and protection in its various forms. Her attention turns instead to Dimitri and she nods in return before looking over her shoulder at Kit. "Love, I think now would be a god time to dismount. Things look like they will soon become ugly."

Ekess says, "Well, uglier..."

Seelus kupos in alarm, his mound of earth pulling him away from the circle slightly and rising up so he can look over towards the one Dax is screaming out about. "That does not sound good at all, who is that Kupo." He turns and starts to move towards Dimitri, locking onto someone he knows. "Mister Dimitri kupo, can I help at all kupo." The small geomancer has his pom held in one hand now to stop it from bouncing around wildly.

The fight is naturally winding down, as spirits are dispatched or otherwise slain, they vanish quietly back to their home realms. Some do take note of Dax's words, willing themselves away from the madness. Odin looks towards the assembly, shaking his head, 'Dark times, is your soul ready for war?' and he turns away with a great twirl of his cloak, vanishing into its flowing length as if he never was there. A blue head pops free in the gerna circle, the spirit looking around with folded ears before she tries to withdraw as quickly as she came. The cult members seem entirely indiscriminate in their attacks, raining fire and ice and other elements upon spirits one by one, banishing them from the mortal world for a time. Kefka is having the time of his 'life', head tossed back as his unnerving laugh shakes the area, body glowing with thousands of years of pent up energy and fustration. Carbuncle looks up from his kill, puck's throat torn out and fading away. His head tilts with confusion, then he barks, shimmering shields coming into existance over those who are not entirely spirit in the area.

Kit murmurs "Dont you dare get yourself killed" to Ekess, and it doesnt sound like a plea from a loved one it sounds like a direct order as she hops downand raises her arms turning to look over at Kefka.. hm to let the other spirits handle it or to perhaps... ah there... she starts to reach out pluckin the air in front of her.. not about to reach for the jester oh no no no... but.. his cult... ah there.

Dimitri's eyes flick to Seelus for a brief moment before he answers, "fight or flee.. I have a bad feeling that they will not care if you be mortal, esper or spirit." A shiver races down his spine and he glances towards Gerna briefly before lifting the blade and whispering to himself and the sleeping Sion, "forgive me." With a low growl he begins moving towards the nearest of the cultmembers with blade in hand, "STOP!" The command given at the end of the swinging weapon.

Dax shivers to himself, "This can't be happening! We must go back…we MUST SPEAK TO BAHUMAT! He could settle the spirit war…oh gaia, what if that clown did something to Bahumat…" he shivers as he doesn't know what to do, looking at the clowns business. He begins to lift his body up, and the Mithra starts to Dance…that's it DANCE. Stepping in long and drawn out motions to swish his body he shivers, "Sleep…sleep, dream of death, sleep sleep…dream of blood, sleep sleep…dream your last dream" he begins to sing as he focuses on one Minion at a time.

The cult member stares at Dimitri through empty eyes, then a smile erupts on his face, overwhelming his features with the grin that seems to stretch his face. He laughs, echoing his master, the others joining in as they advance, 'He will make the finest statue of nothing,' speaks the one at the fore, energy sheathing his hands as all of them raise in unison, ready to destroy dimitri in a concentrated effort. The sword comes down, and that cultist shrieks in pain, collapsing to the ground, 'Blood, blood!' the pathetic creature wails, 'I'm bleeding!!' The others are uncaring of their allie's fate, weaving the unmaking magic. The battlefield is starting to become sparse now, mostly kefka and his minions and those gathered, all others sent away.

Ekess's response to Kit is more of a wink than anything else as her fingers and tails dance around in fast and arcane gestures. Her voice drops slightly as she begins intoning the components needed for her most potent and layered spell of protection, complimenting Madeen's efforts.

All this action and... mayhem... I guess a hunt is out of the question. That would be, really, the only thought that goes through Leapri's mind, the giant snow leopardess flicking an ear rapidly... just kinda... watching the mass of things... and noting the passion in certain being's voices... and the far off talk that she can't exactly hear. "..." What do you expect one to do in this situation? She rather... uhs... and starts to step forward... then back... tilting her head... and not knowing what's going on quite so well. Mrrrf... Yet friends are in danger, it seems. A few here she knows. And they seem hostile. With a step and quite the loud roar, she hunkers herself down, and begins to charge for those concentrating on Dimitri, claws unsheathed and tail whipping out.

Aden hears the words of Dax. He hears all this talking. He reaches for his side, and draws a small stiletto from there, there's war happening here, and it's something that could bleed into other areas if left unchecked. But these are spirits...things that could turn him into ash in a split second. He assesses his choices. And lifts a hand up, a faint arcane glow coming from his fingers. Aiming at one of the minions... His mouth moves slowly to the words required.

Seelus lifts himself up higher, his mound of earth switching to a small column, allowing the moogle to see the combat clearer, he digs his hands into the earth and begins to call upon the elemental power of earth to try and counter the elemental magics Kefka's minions are hurling about, trying to disrupt and counter them as best he can, hurling all he has into them, "I will not flee Kupo!"

The shell wraps around Dimitri just in time for the seering obliteration to strike him clear of of his feet, one arm singed, another frost bitten, crackles of electricity runnin over the man. Yet, he lives, perhaps thanks to the warding incantation. The remaining cultists are thrown from their feet as the ground is made to move and shape under them. Kefka brings forward a hand, and snaps, the loud sound seeming to echo, piercing the veil between worlds as the ground sinks just behind him in a huge depression. The stink of oil and death become overwhelming as the air for several stories tall begins to shake and glimmer. Something is coming.

Dax ghasps as he looks around, staring at the ground as it begins to get saturated with that foul magic of kefka, his whole body trembles, "No! You cannot pollute this ground!" he says as the spirit circles are starting to get disrupted, his eyes shut as he begins to try and DRAW the poisionous magic out of the ground and toss it back!

Dimitri's strange double bladed sword swings back around as he takes aim for a second, "I'll take as many of you with me as possible!" He's afraid, who wouldn't be afraid? Yet he intends to fight on. The plan is derailed as the shield surrounds him and their magic tosses the man back, his sword skittering from his hand as instinctively he clutches his belly protectively and shudders. Shaking himself he looks up and then rolls over to reclaim his sword, yelping in pain, but holding fast.

An almost literal SCREEECH is heard as Leapri trys her best not to run into the jutting up and shaping land the cultists previously dwelled upon. Taking her feet to expertise movement, she would leap and avoid the swirling and thrashing land, skidding gently on the ground as she huffs, coming to land near Dimitri, who was now so injured. "...!!" No, she doesn't know what's going on. Really. At all. The feline pants. "You carry yourself well with pain, Protective One." The feline speaks to the frostbitten, scorched swordsman, but locks her eyes on what that wierd man is doing to the depressed ground, and what Dax is doing in that wierd circle. "What the hell is happening...?"

A large missile appears before Dax and fires off towards Kefka. What strange element was that?! Kefka holds up his hand in a 'stop' gesture and the missile obeys, flaring brightly with propulsion but advancing no further, a mere inch from his palm, "UWEHEHEHEHE, they have fight in them, such wonderful subjects! Dance, dance for me!" he orders, waving the missile away, streaking off into the darkness to explode violently a short distance away. The cultists are wailing and moaning with a perverse exstasy. 'The death comes, the death comes, the death comes!' they chant from the ground, not even bothering to rise to their feet. A great black metal arm reaches from the air a story above Kefka's head, then another, each lacking entirely in fingers, instead huge cannons make up each one. The great war machine, warmech has arrived!

Aden is...not being attacked, but his attention turns on Kefka, whom, despite being partly blind on this Moogle's part, is quite obviously very frightening in appearance due to the massive warmech now. The depressed ground. He ponders fleeing. He ponders helping. Fleeing is looking /so/ much better right about now. His spell, well, it is cut off before it can actually go off, having been unable to finish the right incantation to use it. "This is horrible, kupo!"

Seelus digs his hands into his column of earth deeper, the column collapsing under him as with a loud kupo he switches the focus of his counter-flood to the mad laughing clown shrieking. He has no idea if it will distract him but he has to try something. His one hope to distract him somehow, his eyes widening as he watches the war machine appearing. "Look out Kupo! What is that!"

Dax shivers as he sees the great warmech, and he knows not what to do, he falls to his knees and folds his hands and his eyes shut, "Great spirit Bahamut, please...please answer the call, both the mortal and the spirit realms has been torn apart by the Mad Clown Kefka, only you could have the power to stop this, only you can restore order...please...please restore the order of the universe" he says in earnest piety as much as he can muster as death stares down upon the northern contient. Nothing shall survive the warmech if it fully materializes. To Leapri he looks up, "Right now...the end of us..."

"Kefka....." Dimitri answers only this as he grits his teeth. The sword sways slightly before he firms his painful grip, little lightningarcs playing along the metal weapon and along the collar around his neck, but not his clothing strangely enough. His eyes widen for a few horrified moments before he shouts to all within hearing, "stop it! We must stop it!" Wounded and frightened he begins to run, this time running straight towards Kefka in hopes distracting him will earn them precious moments. For what? He does not know.

Ekess snarls, actually daring to approach Kefka with her hands held ready to cast again. She stopsmore than thirty feet away "You will stop this instant! This is wrong in just so many ways. Cease your rediculous attempts at butchery and savaging this land and that of the spirit realm!" Okay,more than a little foolhardy, but she has to try the nonviolent approach.

A thin beam of light cuts the ground just before Kefka, emerging from an orb on the underside of the warmech. The ground so struck violently explodes upwards, barring passage to the dark jester, "There are things to be done, hovels to crush." He looks pointedly from one person to the next, "Where is your pathetic excuse for a city? Tell me and you will live, for now." His arms cross, waiting impatiently for reply.

Aden doesn't respond to anything Kefka says, and merely flicks his ears and raises his hands with the arcane light ready for a spell that he has not finished the incantation for... That's about when the massive explosion happens to the ground in front of Kefka. "KYII! This is too much, kupo!" and he immediately darts for a place behind a tree or somesuch in a cowardly tactic that won't help at all.

Leapri grahs, digging at the ground as spines of bone begin to pop out of her tail, piercing the flesh and causing her blood to drip to the ground, making the appendage a dangerous weapon. "Bah! Kefka? I guess that's you, huh?" She raises her voice. "There's a city in pretty much any direction! It's just a matter of how far you want to travel~..." She readies her claws, snow and wind whipping up around her. "Don't think you'll make it to the city though..." A grin. Yeah... Dimitri's got the right idea. Then again, Leapri knows nothing about this being's power... that explosion says a lot though! ... But bombs don't scare her! Much...

Dax shivers as he remains praying, to fight a greater spirit there's only the other spirits! He watchs Dimitri, Leapri, and Ekess head towards the Clown Prince and he closes his eyes, "Please. MY friends will die, and many more too because the spirits are at war with themselves, please come and help!"

A golden, almost holy, light erupts from the sky and sorrounds Kefka. He grows, shirt tearing free to reveal sculpted physique as large white wings erupt from his back, "I am your god!" speaks the jester. The makeup on his face is distorted with his grin, "That lazy fop won't help you now. That lazy son of a salamander dragon wouldn't save his own mother." His right fist is raised, clenched, "It is time for your miserable lives to gain meaning." His cultists have risen to their feet and are clambering up onto warmech, mounting the huge device of destruction.

Seelus kupos and sags, panting heavily, moving the earth so violently is tiring, but the little green pom'd moogle refuses to surrender and back up. This is his new home under threat after all, he grips his pom between his hands and starts to chant, batlike wings fluttering as he rises up into the air slightly, pom glowing for a moment as the moogle unleases counter flood for a second time, this time seizing upon the elemental forces of the air and tossing it at the cultists, it may well drain him to keep this up but he refuses to drop until he's spent everything.

Kit stops plucking the air "This... isnt working." she mutters and just holds back watching not sure what to do really... chewing on her knuckle again .. she reaches out and tries to pluck another dangerous string.

Ekess says, "The only city You will be directed towards is Alexander himself, desecrator!" And with that, Ekess kneels down in prayer herself, sending a silent but strong plea to the most powerful defensive spirit anyone knows of. Her lipsmove quickly, forming words in the spirit language as she desperately sends out the call to the aloof and noninterfering spirit, literally praying for amiracle in this instance."

Dimitri skids to a stop, nearly falling once again, but jsut barelly keeps his feet beneath him. HIs head is thrown back as he snarls at Kefka, "it will not happen. Leave these people and the spirits alone." He eyes the stone, the distance between himself and the dark jester and the fallen followers all around. The chances are slim to none. To Leapri and Ekess he mutters, "we need greater numbers and the spirits backing.." As Seelus starts to act once again wings sprout from his back and he launches himself before Seelus to keep him protected.

Dax shivers, "Please...Kefka was sealed away for a reason, he is the bringer of chaos and death! You know this, that is why this war has broken out, please..." he looks up, "it's what SHE would want, to have all the spirits work together!" he intones, trying to prehaps bring a memory of the Grand Summoner, looking up finally at Kefka, "You are just a tired old man" he responds

His laughter shakes gaia as he gestures at Dax, "That old witch was my pawn. She danced to my music, and she died a pathetic fop. Now you will all know what it means.." He lifts from the ground. Bahamut, infuriatingly, remains perched in his spirit realm, watching, waiting for the hero's call and venture, bound by laws ancient and terrible for the sake of both planes, the dragon god king waits and watches.

Leapri looks around... growlfing at the large being of a machine, and the sculpted, winged man... "..." A roar into the air! "If we fight here, we're sure to die... If you have to pray to the spirits, do so behind the wall of Highwind!" She begins to back up. So many people mounting one machine... There's hardly any openings. "A retreat is in order for now, I think..." Immediately, she wonders if the wall would help at all... to that machine? Doesn't seem likely. "Come on~...!" She calls again to the others...

Ekess continues to pray to Alexander, sending all of her mystic reserves remaining into that call to the ultimate defender. She knows that she could never presume to call directly to Bahamut, but her uppermost superior before that in the spiritual hierarchy, that she can do.

Without a pause, Aden takes off in following Leapri's demands, or at least fleeing as fast as he can move. His arms swing at his sides as his little legs don't take him very fast, but enough to get him away from the scene and toward Highwind.

Seelus lets his counter flood die out, if they've stopped using elemental magic he has to switch tactics, pouring his magical reserves into keeping up his attack with the elements of the air. His pow glows with a blue light as he unleases the Air spell, it's the only thing he can think of, delay the cultists by trying to knock them off the machine as they climb.

The ground before warmech violently depresses and a mechanized fist comes flying from the ether, bashing warmech across its 'face'. Alexander begins to battle, holy machine versus one of death, great exchanges of salvos and ground shattering collisions of metal. The people perched on Alexander can be heard chanting a war ballad, missiles striking the holy city, divine beams of energy cutting lines along warmech's body. The battle is terrible, and awfully dangerous to hang around for.

Dimitri's brows draw together as he whispers, "Madeen, your strength lend me..." A strange prayer as he flies before Seelus, guarding the brave moogle and lifting his voice, ~King Bahamut, look before you at these children. Look how they stand firm in the face of death, look how they will fight and protect. Come to us, please, even if only to aid for a short time.. give us this chance now that we know what is before us!! Please! Any boon you will ask for I will give as I can. Ask and I will find a way to grant what is needed with time.~ And then Alexander makes it's appearance and he starts backing off, grabbing one of Seelus' hands though he winces in pain.

Dax shivers as he stands up and looks at the warmech and at Kefka...Bahamut is not answering the calls of those against the clown prince. The Spirit of Alexander is actually starting to to come and fight and he looks around, "Come on...please...PLEASE!" he calls out, no longer appealing directly to Bahumat, "Odin, Carbuncle, Shiva, Efrit!" he says as his arms spread, "The clown king shall destroy the world, and pit you aginast one another, he laughs at you and all you do! Seal him back away!" trying to get ANY Spirit to help against the giant Warmech and the powerful Kefka. The mithra cannot offer any help, only his prayers to ask for help.

Seelus finally goes limp, clutching at Dimitri's hand to avoid falling to the ground, the moogle is spent, eyes half closed as he watches Alexander appear and lay into the war machine. "I can't do any more Kupo....it is too strong kupo..."

Ekess shudders and collapses at the severe drain of energy,even though it was deliberate. She starts to stand back up, moving slowly away from the main point of conflict while taking huge gasps of air. The blue chameleon has turned a rather sickly gray, but her eyes are locked on the battle now, her fingers clenching and claws flexing as if she wished she could do anything more to help.

The machines butt heads and the cultists surge across, laying siege to the great gate of Alexander, bringing the battle to the holy city with the sound of conflict and death. With all the other spirits so recently sent away from the mortal realm, they are helpless to appear so soon. Kefka plans his destruction quite well. He laughs from the air as metal beams and debris fall all around him, "Run, run, or you'll be well done!" he calls out after the luckless combatants.

To see a city stand... a holy city, stand and fight... fight against a being of great power... that... is something one can only see in a hundred lifetimes. Leapri... just stands... her retreat lost for the moment as her eyes slit horribly... reason, logic. Yeah... that's... GONE. Staring... staring... staring... these beings are so powerful. Sure... she has the strength to knock a dragon on it's rump, but... a dragon would probably be incinerated in a moment at these beings' power... With a snap of recognition, she realizes who's drained from calling this... 'city'... and rushes up to Ekess...mrowling~. "Lean on me. We've got to get to Highwind. If that... City can't stop him... we've got to prepare..."

Dax stares and feels nothing, none of his pacts, none of his spirit tingles all of the spirits are too far off, not even Odins' warriors will come to this fight, defeated he lets his limbs fall and looks to the others, "Either Alexander will win and we can survive, and if we don't...we're going to die, we need to flee, we can't stay here...we can't win, Alexander is our only hope" he shivers, "Mortals are done in this fight, quick"

Ekess says, "NO! We stand and fight! Pick up your weapons, draw on your bodies! Attack the desecrating jester now while his bodyguard is occupied! Those of you that lack the confidence to attack Kefka himself, attack his cultists! If not for yourselves, then for your families!"

Dax looks at Ekess, "NO! You Have Eggs come back!" he says summoning up...his Egg of Life, pushing fowrward a large Ogre like egg from no where...his creature tries to drag Ekess away!

Families. Well, Aden won't ever get a family if he stays here and gets killed by this fight. He keeps running, until he is well out of sight and away from the battle.

Dimitri's head snaps towards Ekeess and he points at her, "you are under orders to remain alive.. do not allow Alexander's fight to be in vain. We must live another day for our children and the rest of the world. Now -retreat-." That's an order as well. The chief Warden looks towards the others, "Retreat!" He hates it, yes.. but it does not stop him from realizing how things stand.

Dax flees like a scared little girl! BWAAAAAAAH!

Seelus remains firmly holding onto the hand Dimitri grabbed him with, kupoing softly, pom bouncing as he moves with the chief warder away from the fight. Still dazed and exhausted, "He's too strong...where did he come from."

Leapri growls, nodding as she dashes torwards Dimitri. "To the Caves, or the Wall?" She huffs, clawing at the ground and looking back to the fight...

Ekess is quite easily dragged, onlly able to put up a token resistance with all of her energy gone despite being completely unharmed. Dimitri and Dax both begin to make sense, especially since her temper is fading fast and sensibility is returning. Her heart stops for a moment as a particularly large chunk of Alexander is blown apart, forcing her to close her eyes and turn away. "I am damned now....I called him here to his own great peril...."

Dax cries and shivers, "My Gaia, what can we do! Even Alexander can't stop it, the spirits are all gone, and...and...Bahumat will only come if we prove ourselves worth! Only a quest can do that, we don't have any time for a quest of that level"

The holy city is forced to a knee and warmech raises a barrel-filled 'hand' to alexander's face. With a defeaning explosion, the city slowly falls to the ground, fading as it goes, littering the ground with sparkling, dissapearing debris.

Dimitri's head snaps towards Ekess, "he knew, he knew and chose to come.." Dax's words ring in his ears before the man grits his teeth and flies towards the caves with Seelus, his eyes closing for a long moment as he hears the explosion and the shockwave causes him to loose a bit of altitude, get to the caves those who are hurt and out of energy. The rest , head down the stream to the city and give them warning." He looks towards Leapri, "Your as fast as I.. head to the city and tell them. Summon defenders or get them to hide."

Seelus looks up at Dimitri, "Sorry kupo...to be a burden kupo...get me...kupo on the ground I can...draw on Gaia kupo."

With a flick of her ears, Leapri nods... and doesn't even look to see how Alexander fairs... but instead, takes off at full speed torwards the city, growling under her breath...

Dax shivers, "how is this possible...how how how...did...did the Mortal spirit pact die with the Grand smmoner?" he asks with his wide eyes, "Did they...my gaia...Gaia...if it's true all the rules are done, and Kefka's free and..." he starts to curl up, in this case, his connection to Gerna won't help, the relativly peacful Mithra now faced with a possibility of anhiliation

Ar'kalu arrives from [Highwind Point]: Beyond Northgate.

Ekess just shakes her head< shivering and closing her eyes as she moves towards the caves quickly. "S-someone must seal the caves until we can march out to support the mortals. We must fight alongside them, but we cannot allow that think inside..."

Nitro has heard the storys of a small army heading towards the colony.... the goblin whistling slightly off-key as he comes trudging up the roadway following by his Automaton Rusty, who is pulling a small wooden cart with a tarp thrown over it. "Oh now this is going to be fun...."

In the distance, the winged angel Kefka is approaching with the warmech trailing behind him, each step of the titan a small earthquake.

A blur of white and blue passes by Nitro as he comes along the path. In the distance is Alexander, with his face blown off, dissappearing, and the scene described just above.

Nitro reachs into his coat and removes a telescope.. extending it to it's full length and turning it towards the oncoming folks to get a better look at what they're up against. "Ok rusty.. start laying them out." The automaton removes the tarp from the wagon revealing... automatons.. over a dozen of them. The metal man moving to begin laying out the first wave.

Dimitri shakes his head towards Seelus, "s'alright..." He stops at the enterance to the caves and then murmurs, "The swarms...damn.." Finding his feet as his eyes turn towards Dax, "stop it Dax, stop it -now- this is not the time!" HE looks towards Ekess then and nods slowly, "Mairi... we need her to call the ice." He looks towards the road then and makes a quiet sound before exhaling, "need.. someone who can heal also..." He looks at his wounded arms before flicking his gaze towards Dax, "now.. how do we summon Bahumat? Something tells me we don't have time enough for more then a wing and a prayer.

Seelus kupos, "I can heal kupo...." he sinks his feet into the earth, letting it wrap around him, up to the ankles." He shakes the hood of his jumper and looks up at the Espers. "This is very bad kupo....i will do anything I can to help kupo."

Dax nods, "That's what we have" he earflicks and tries to think, "Because of the power of the Dragon king he cannot enter the world without a Hero's Call, a hero must quest and be summoned and then he grants the ability to summon the Dragon, you cannot summon him without being accepted by him fi rst"

Kit wrinkles her nose as she appears once more by Ekess.... "I.. could .... try to get to his realm and push him here but he would probably be very..very mad at me so that would not likely be a good idea..." her tail lashes. "the cultists know love again... which is hampering the fight.. love of life giving them some fear of death..."

Dax says, "Even I have not been to the Dragon's realm, and I've traveled a lot in the spirit world""

Ekess shudders and immediately begins to lean against Kit, closing her eyes and shaking slightly. "Does anyone have an ether or two? I am afrad that I drained myself utterly in calling Alexander.....and I have no idea how I manage to do it without killing myself in the process, it'ssimply never been done so far as I know."

The mechanized army marches towards Kefka and his cronies, much to his amusement. With soft pfft pfft pffts, missiles launch from the back of the warmech, shattering the foreward wave of mechanized soldiers and scattering metal with an impressively long range assault.

Dimitri nods to Seelus, "if you would then..." He looks towards Dax and frowns slightly before murmuring, "with the number of quests I've gone on, from rescuing Kuri and the mana tree seedling to helping Sion regain his human body, unsuccessfully and to Madeen's training of me.. I've never tried to be a hero. I am what I am, all that I can be." He looks at Ekess before nodding and pulling out a few hi ethers, handing them to hear and Seelus both, "alright.. so we've not time for Bahumat unless someone went there and asked him face to face. I'd offer myself, but I don't want to leave the caves weakened at all. We need the people in the city. Hopefully Leapri will be able to rally or to help them hide."

Nitro gives a low whistle "Wow... what the heck did we do to piss this guy off?"

Seelus nods his head, taking the ethers he is handed and securing them in his flight harness before he once more holds his pom between his hands and starts to concentrate, a white light glowing from it this time as he begins to cast cure ipon Dimitri.

Dax nods, "Bahamut is the only spirit left that could help, all of the others have been fighting in some...civil war, I still don't know what's going on, and now Kefka is here to reclaim Gaia while the other spirits are healing" he rubs the back pf his head, "I don't know what to do next"

Ekess swallows one of the ethers immediately, then carefully tucks the other two into the silken wrappings around her torso. She looks to Kit, and then to Dimitri. "I have an idea. Kit, do you have any power over Kefka? Could you make him love something other than destruction and chaos, or at least make him stop loving that?"

Nitro gives a nervous chuckle and looks over those gathered.. then looks back through the telescope at the oncoming horde. Collapsing the telescope and returning it to his coat he looks to rusty. "Pack um back up... I may be crazy but I ain't stupid."

Kit looks over to Dax as she helps hold Ekess up "They have been in turmoil because the Summoner of the west died Dax.... very much chaos in all realms now..." she wrinkles her nose "I ... could try but he might notice me then... it was much easier making his cultists all love again..."

Ar'kalu was out gathering herbs earlier. Once the thunderous sounds of the War Mech finally hit his ears he creeps over low towards the direction of the sound as his eyes gaze upon something in the distance. Its pretty far away but he can tell its rather huge and dangerous. More dangerous than a Behemoth that's for sure.

Dimitri inhales slowly and his eyes close in relief before he smiles at Seelus, "thank you.." He looks at Dax and then frowns, "your right... frankly it seems that Bahumat is the only option, but we can't all go and weaken ourselves. We also need to get down to the city to help the defenders there. He looks towards Kit and asks suddenly, "and can you help me cross over to the spirit realm? I'll try to convince Bahumat. Maybe face to face.." He shakes his head a little, obviously unsure and reaching for anything.

Dax nods to Kit, "I know, the Grand summoner is gone...Gerna told me about it when I asked, which is why I worried about the Pact..." he rubs the back of his head and then finally sighs, and then looks to Dimitri, "if you're going into the spirit realms I should go to...I am a friend and know my way around some of the spirit realms, I dunno who we could fine, but if you're going into the realms I'm going" he says

Seelus kupos and lifts his hood over his head, looking up at Dimitri to see how he fares now that his spell has been cast. "I can cast it again Kupo, should you need it Kupo." He then looks at Dax and the others and kupos, "I'll go kupo....I..I do not know much about spirits Kupo...but I will go kupo if I even can kupo...if I can help save everyone and my new home." He sits down and looks up at all the tall people.

Nitro looks over the automaton as he packs up the wagon. "Let's heads back for the teleporter to the mainland before more people figure out what's coming and there's a mad rush." The automaton begins pulling the wagon again as the pair make thier retreat.

Ekess stares hard at Dimitri,shaking her head after a moment. "I may be the esper of magical defenses, but I am as nothing compared to those two horrors. Anything I could do here would be a waste of time and effort when Bellatrix can handle things more readily. Besides....it may help to have me along in case Bahamut proves....less than acceptable to our presence in his realm.

Kit groans and pffts a little blowing her bangs out of her eyes "ah.. this is not going to be good.. not good at all.. but yes I can take you all there.... though he may just kick us back to here .. in a hurtful way..."

Nitro leaves from [Highwind Point]: Northern Roadway, heading into [Highwind Point]: Beyond Northgate.

Dimitri looks around for a moment and he frowns before stating, "then he kicks us out.. this is all we can do other than fight with the mortals. Many will die.. I'd prefer you all stay, but I won't say no. I am just worried about the caves..." He looks at Kit and smiles faintly, "sis? I'll take my chances with Bahamut.. if it's got to be done, it's got to be done. Please send me and the others who wish to go."

Seelus stands back up and flaps his wings, pulling his feet back out of the earth, "I will not kupo, stand by kupo and let this destruction happen kupo! I may not be very strong kupo but you all made me welcome kupo in the court kupo, I am not going to abandon it now kupo. I'll do everything I can kupo, to help so send me along with Dimtiri kupo...if it is possible. If not kupo I'll stay here and do my best with the caves kupo." He's scared, which is evident in his trembling wings but he is trying to be brave.

Ekess places a hand on Kit's shoulder, looking from her to Dimitri once more. "If you open the way,I can make the trip a bit eaier by carrying those that may need some rest afterwards."

Dax nods his head as he stands up, and he brushes himself off and he tries to find his "spirit" cloths, the cloths he wears when he talks with spirits, putting on the mystically runed clothing, he just takes a large breath, "Right..."

Kit looks between everyone and sighs a little bit.. She isn't all that optomistic but she will do it because well doing nothjing isnt really an option and she cant think of anything else "oks.... um your all summoners or espers so it isnt like Im taking anyone who hasnt had experiences there so that wont come back to bite me... " she hopes and offers her hands out now.

Ekess says, "Don't forget, some of us are summoners AND espers."

Seelus tucks his hands behind his back and kupos, "I kupo am a Geomancer kupo and not an esper Kupo or a summoner, I have never been before kupo." His wings flutter and he looks up at Dimitri and then Kit, "Perhaps I should stay kupo? I do not wish to be a burden kupo."

Ekess looks at Seelus, then shakes her head slowly. "You came to the esper courts of your own will,correct? You joined the court, knowing fully well that this would mean that you would have to settle any and all former ties to mortal agencies?"

Dax nods his head and then phews, "Yes I know...I have been to the Spirit realm before I know it"

Dimitri nods slowly and he looks at Dax then Ekess though he pauses and looks towards Seelus for a moment, "if the answer is yes, I think that the spirits would accept you have ended your old life and begun a new." He smiles for a moment at Ekess and then looks back to Kit tilting his head a little, "don't you, Kit?"

Dax nods, "So...how is it you all want to try and entere the spirit world?" he asks, "Which realm should we try to enter in?" he asks

Seelus nods his head, adjusting his hood again so he can see, "I did yes kupo, I accepted the Princess' offer willingly." he closes his eyes and flicks his wings, "I'll not back away kupo, I just did not wish to cause extra burden."

The sun slowly sinks over the horizon.

Ekess says, "Then you would qualify for becoming a summoner if you so choose. I believe that ties up all loose ends." She takes one of Kit's hands into her own, reching for the moogle with the other. "I suggest we get moving before it's too late to defend the mortals from our most misguided kinsman."

Dimitri nods to Ekess and he takes Dax's hand and the other reaches for Kit's, "alright, sis when your ready.." He looks worriedly towards the enterance to the cave, "I only hope that we'll have enough time to do this or fail. Either way.."

Seelus takes Ekess' hand and holds onto it, tucking his pom beneath his hood before reaching out to take Dax's hand with the other. "We must have faith kupo, that we may succeed."